Reflection: Retaliation: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. How have you been attacked deceitfully?

        2. How did it fracture your life and your heart towards others?

        3. Did any retaliation bring forth a salvation, or create more hardship?

Share: Do you now trust in the Lord's hands? How?

Retaliation: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reading: 1 Peter 2:21-23: "In fact, you were called to live this way, because Christ also suffered in your place, leaving you His example for you to follow. He never sinned and He never spoke deceitfully. When He was verbally abused, He did not return with an insult; when He suffered, He would not threaten retaliation. Jesus faithfully entrusted Himself into the hands of God, who judges righteously."

Retaliation

What are some of the ways you have seen others abused: physically or verbally? Were you able to intervene or get assistance? Or need to walk away for your own or others safety? But planning revenge when possible?

What about the silent names we call others or ourselves for disagreements, or anger, or failures, or embarrassment, or guilt?

When faced with an attack of any form our instinct is protection, to gauge the level of danger or safety. This is a gift of warning we are given. To choose our next step.

When we can seek for clarity. To try to navigate within and without. Seek guidance. Pray.

When we seek the Lord first we can take a step of faith even in extreme danger.

Your thoughts, 

Conditions: 1 Peter: prayers and Poetry

                Conditions 

                To walk His path

                in trust

                in all circumstances.

                To keep our heart and soul

                in faith

                in commitment.

                To persevere

                in trust

                in all circumstances.

                To walk His path with Him.

Psalm 89:12: "The north and the south, Thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Thy name."

Reflection: Endure: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions: 

        1. How have you endured mistreatment whether for an accident or purposeful wrongdoing?

        2. How did that change your actions or decisions or payback?

        3. How have you reconciled to unjust treatment when obeying God?

Share: What words do you pray to stay grounded to His guidance?

Endure: 1 Peter 2: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2:18-20: "Those who are servants, submit to the authority of those who are your masters--not only to those who are kind and gentle but even to those who are hard and difficult. You find God's favor by deciding to please God even when you endure hardship because of unjust suffering. For what merit is it to endure mistreatment for wrongdoing? Yet if you are mistreated when you do what is right, and you faithfully endure it, this is commendable before God."

Endure

How often do we resist conflict by resisting hardship or ignore wrongdoing to avoid mistreatment to ourselves or tho those we care for?

Or sometimes we are so self-absorbed we assume unfairness when we are being called to follow difficult truths.

Too often we allow hardship and suffering to weaken our trust and commitment and truth that You are present. And sometimes hesitate to accept Your will be done.

Lord, keep us connected to You in all situations, no matter how costly, so that we will remain faithful. To stand on Your presence. On Your ground. In trust.

Your thoughts,

Reverence: I Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Reverence 

                A life lived

                in reverence

                gifted to each one

                a choice to accept

                ongoing grace

                for all in kindness

                Holy ground

                every moment. 

                

Psalm 89:11: "The heavens are Thine, the earth is also Thine; The world and all it contains, Thou hast founded them."

Reflection: Freedom: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. How do you consider what is the Lord's gift of freedom daily regardless of the world's view?

        2. In what ways do they conflict?

        3. What form of the world's foolishness is an ongoing struggle?

Share: What is one way you show His love to others, especially strangers."

Freedom: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2:14-17: "... or the governors He put in place to punish lawbreakers and to praise those who do what's right. For it is God's will for you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. As God's loving servants, you should live in complete freedom, but never use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Recognize the value of every person and continually show love to every believer. Live your lives with great reverence and in holy awe of God. Honor your rulers."

Freedom

To walk in truth--no attack.

In His path only--steps of heart and soul and desires as He leads. Whether in light or darkness.

To focus on His words--especially when tiredness and weakness overwhelm us.

In His vision we are able to follow.

To an ongoing gift of life walking on Holy Ground in holy awe.

Lord, please keep our thoughts and actions attuned to Your purpose. Step by step into Your values and love.

Your thoughts,

Trust: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Trust 

                To act polite

                is not always to agree.

                To keep true

                is to follow the Lord's words.

                To stand firm

                is to trust His answer.

                To be listening

                is to discern His truth.

Psalm 89:10: "Thou Thyself didst crush Rahab like one who is slain; Thou didst scatter Thine enemies with Thy mighty arm."

Reflection: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions: 

        1. The Lord has requested us to show respect to human institutions and to defer to authority. How do we obey Him when the leaders are evil?

        2. How can we glorify Him without becoming connected or entangled in fraudulent sins?

        3. How can we act with respect and not create arguments?

Share: What is one way to obey the Lord without acting in deceit?

Guidance: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2:11-13: "My divinely loved friends, since you are resident aliens and foreigners in this world, I appeal to you to divorce yourselves from the evil desires that wage war within you. Live honorable lives as you mix with unbelievers, even though they accuse you of being evildoers. For they will see your beautiful works and have a reason to glorify God in the day He visits us. In order to honor the Lord, you must respect and defer to the authority of every human institution, whether it be the highest ruler...".

Guidance

He will show us the way through the lies when we hold onto His words.

When we commit to listening and acting from His truth.

When we hold onto faith.

When we respond with politeness and obedience into jurisdictions as the Lord guides and we honor Him. To recognize that whether their control is honest or not we will be able to make right choices through His authority only.

Thank you Lord for Your ongoing guidance through the power of Your Holy Spirit in all circumstances.

Your thoughts,

Broadcast: 1 Peter : Prayers and Poetry

                Broadcast

  

                Drenched

                in mercy

                undeserved

                called out

                of darkness

                into His heart

                now a devoted one

                belonging--chosen

                now broadcast

                this spiritual grace

                of wonder

                throughout your world.

Psalm 89:9: "Thou dost rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, Thou dost still them."

Reflection: Chosen: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. How did you first react to God's call of grace?

        2.Did the thought of being a treasure surprise you?

        3. Do you still feel drenched with His mercy? How?

Share: What is one way you broadcast His message within your daily life?